Spring Secrets - Allie Boniface Page 0,3
else’s?”
She thought about her to-do list. Sort of mine. Mostly not. She probably wouldn’t have followed through with taking self-defense if Jason hadn’t actually bought her the gift certificate. “How obvious is the answer?”
He flashed her another grin that turned her knees weak. Tattoos covered his arms, and their intricate designs distracted her. He had ink on both legs too, which made for one heck of a piece of artwork standing across from her. She’d heard the stories about Dash Springer and his reputation with women. Being this close to him, she had no doubt they were true.
She took a step back to put some distance between them. “I’m actually moving to London in July.”
“Think I heard about that.”
“You did?”
“It was in the paper, right?”
She nodded.
“Are you surprised I read the paper?”
“No.” She felt herself redden. “I mean, not many people do, that’s all.” Of course she was surprised. Men who looked like Dash didn’t spend time reading the paper, at least not in her experience. Not like you have a lot of experience with men like Dash.
“So what does that have to do with taking self-defense?”
She twisted her fingers together. Dash didn’t look like a list-maker. “I have some things I want to do before I go.”
Read Pride and Prejudice again.
Get a new laptop.
Buy an honest-to-goodness camera and learn how to use it.
There were other items on the list, but to be honest, she couldn’t remember them at the moment. Dash’s gaze seemed to be burning them right out of her head.
“Ah,” he said, “and one of those things is learning to fight off Jack the Ripper?”
Sienna blinked. “Is he still a thing? I thought he died last century.”
Dash laughed, an amazing sound that filled up the room. His dimples popped and his eyes crinkled at the corners. “I think you’re right. He’s probably long gone. But I’m sure there’s someone over there waiting to kidnap pretty young women.”
He thinks I’m pretty.
Don’t be stupid. He probably says things like that to everyone who walks in here.
“Sienna?” Dash waved a hand in front of her face. “Sorry. I was kidding. I didn’t mean to scare you. I think London’s as safe as any place these days.”
“Which means, not so much.” She tugged down her tank top and wished she’d brought something baggier than yoga leggings and a thin cotton top. Under his gaze, she felt oddly exposed. Vulnerable.
He took her hands and shook her arms lightly, as if to loosen them. “Then we better get started. If you have a list of things to get through, I mean. I’m sure self-defense training is just one of many.”
Was he teasing her? She couldn’t tell. His mouth seemed perpetually curved into a half-smile.
“Though I can promise you, it might be the most fun of all the things you’ll be checking off that list.”
Oh, he was definitely teasing her. And she was definitely enjoying it.
“We’ll take it one step at a time,” he added, fixing those intense blue eyes on hers. “That’s how you tackle anything, you know. Self-defense, lists, life in general. One step at a time.”
ONE HOUR LATER, FLUSHED with adrenaline and good old-fashioned lust, Dash made two protein smoothies and slid one across the desk to Sienna. “You did good for your first time.”
“Thanks.” She wrapped her lips around the straw and sucked, which did nothing to cool his desire. “But you have a strange definition of good.” She loosened her damp hair from its ponytail and combed it out with her fingers. “I think you mean I didn’t pass out or break a bone.”
“Well, that too. I’ve seen both happen.”
“I’m sure you have.” She looked around the gym. “You’ve probably seen a lot happen inside these walls.”
He’d seen more happen outside them, but he wouldn’t tell her that. “So what are you doing between now and July? Besides checking things off your to-do list?”
She stuck out her tongue, looking so cute he almost couldn’t resist the urge to make a dirty comment. “Very funny. Lists are helpful, you know.”
“Or confining.”
She shrugged. “Not for me. Anyway, I took a leave replacement at Whispering Pines Elementary School. The regular teacher’s going out on maternity leave, and I start tomorrow. I figure it’ll give me some good experience for when I go abroad.”
“Is get experience on your list?”
“I already have some, Mr. Wise Ass. I taught when I was in college. For just a month, okay, but it was something.”
That didn’t surprise him. Teaching seemed like the perfect job for someone like